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The white galleries of the Cărturești Carusel bookshop

21 of the best · Bucharest, Romania

The Best Shopping in Bucharest

From the most beautiful bookshop in the Balkans to a huge market with grills, designer boutiques on Calea Victoriei and shops of Romanian design, here is where to shop in Bucharest.

Our 21 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026

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Insiders' picks

Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Bucharest.

  1. The “carousel of light”

    Cărturești Carusel

    Old Town·Bookshop

    A dazzling bookshop in a restored 19th-century building in the Old Town, with white galleries rising over six floors.

    Strada Lipscani 55Explore View on map

  2. The great market

    Piața Obor

    Obor·Market

    Bucharest’s biggest market, with produce, meat, cheese and the famous mici grills.

    Strada Ziduri Moși 4Explore View on map

  3. Luxury on the avenue

    Calea Victoriei boutiques

    Calea Victoriei·Shopping street

    Designer boutiques and watchmakers along Calea Victoriei, near the Athenaeum.

    Explore View on map

The full list: Shopping, A–Z

Show 18 of 21 places on a map
Neighbourhood

The back story 3

Romanian crafts.

  1. The back story

    Mărțișor: Romania’s first day of spring

    Bucharest·In depth: traditions

    Red-and-white threads, small charms and stalls all over the city: the spring tradition on UNESCO’s list.

    Explore View on map

  2. The back story

    Romanian crafts: Horezu pottery, icons on glass and woven rugs

    City-wide·In depth: crafts

    The village crafts worth carrying home, and where to find the real thing in Bucharest.

    Explore View on map

  3. The back story

    The ie: the Romanian blouse

    Bucharest·In depth: crafts

    Hand-embroidered blouses on UNESCO’s list, painted by Matisse and worn with pride: the story of the ie.

    Explore View on map

Bookshops 5

Books.

  1. Books and design

    Cărturești & Friends

    Calea Victoriei·Bookshop

    A Cărturești bookshop with design objects and gifts.

    Strada Edgar Quinet 7Explore View on map

  2. The “carousel of light”

    Cărturești Carusel

    Old Town·Bookshop

    A dazzling bookshop in a restored 19th-century building in the Old Town, with white galleries rising over six floors.

    Strada Lipscani 55Explore View on map

  3. A publisher’s bookshop

    Humanitas Bookshop, Lipscani

    Old Town·Bookshop

    The bookshop of the publisher Humanitas on Lipscani, with Romanian literature in translation.

    Strada Lipscani 42Explore View on map

  4. English books

    Nautilus English Books

    Bucharest·Bookshop

    A bookshop specialising in English-language books.

    Explore View on map

  5. Old books

    Trored Anticariat

    Bucharest·Antiquarian bookshop

    An antiquarian bookshop with old books and prints.

    Strada Patriei 2Explore View on map

Markets 2

Food markets.

  1. A central market

    Piața Amzei

    Amzei·Market

    A small central market near Calea Victoriei, with cafés around it.

    Explore View on map

  2. The great market

    Piața Obor

    Obor·Market

    Bucharest’s biggest market, with produce, meat, cheese and the famous mici grills.

    Strada Ziduri Moși 4Explore View on map

Romanian design 2

Gifts.

  1. Romanian design jewellery

    Firesc

    Calea Victoriei·Jewellery

    A shop of Romanian design jewellery on Calea Victoriei.

    Calea Victoriei 95-97Explore View on map

  2. Romanian-made gifts

    My Romanian Store

    University·Romanian design

    A shop of Romanian-made design, crafts and gifts.

    Strada Episcopiei 6Explore View on map

Food & wine 2

Delicacies.

  1. Wine and delicacies

    Comtesse du Barry

    University·Delicatessen

    A delicatessen and wine shop near the Athenaeum.

    Strada Episcopiei 2Explore View on map

  2. Romanian sweets

    Lingurițe Dulci

    Old Town·Sweets

    A sweet shop on Lipscani.

    Strada Lipscani 19Explore View on map

Watches & perfume 3

Luxury.

  1. Watches

    Galt

    University·Watches

    A watch shop on George Enescu Street.

    Strada George Enescu 5Explore View on map

  2. Niche perfume

    Madison Perfumery

    Dorobanți·Niche perfumery

    A niche perfumery in the north of the city.

    Strada George Călinescu 55Explore View on map

  3. Fine watches

    Rattrapante

    Calea Victoriei·Watches

    A boutique of fine Swiss watches on Calea Victoriei.

    Calea Victoriei 83-85Explore View on map

Shopping streets 1

Streets.

  1. Luxury on the avenue

    Calea Victoriei boutiques

    Calea Victoriei·Shopping street

    Designer boutiques and watchmakers along Calea Victoriei, near the Athenaeum.

    Explore View on map

Malls 3

Shopping centres.

  1. A big mall

    AFI Cotroceni

    Cotroceni·Shopping centre

    One of Bucharest’s largest malls, with an IMAX cinema.

    Bulevardul General Paul Teodorescu 4Explore View on map

  2. The first mall

    Bucharest Mall

    Vitan·Shopping centre

    Bucharest’s first modern shopping mall, in Vitan.

    Calea Vitan 55-59Explore View on map

  3. On Piața Unirii

    Unirea Shopping Center

    Unirii·Shopping centre

    A department store and mall on Piața Unirii.

    Piața Unirii 1Explore View on map

Markets are busiest on Saturday mornings. Non-EU visitors can claim VAT refunds on larger purchases.

Explore more of Bucharest

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